Kansas Senate panel weighs court deadlines

Topeka  A Kansas Court of Appeals judge says the judicial branch is doing its best to produce timely rulings and legislation to create deadlines is unnecessary.

Judge Patrick McAnany on Friday told the Senate Judiciary Committee that judges and justices were aware of concerns about timeliness of decisions and were trying to prompt each other to pick up the pace.

The committee is considering a bill that would create soft deadlines for the district courts, Court of Appeals and Kansas Supreme Court. The courts could miss the deadlines if proper notice was given to parties in the cases.

Senate Vice President Jeff King says six states have similar laws on time limits, which can withhold pay from judges who are tardy in their rulings.